Prince Nayef chairs Cabinet session (10/17/11)

October 17, 2011

Second Deputy Prime Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz began the Cabinet session at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh today by offering reassurances regarding the health of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who underwent successful back surgery over the weekend. Then, Prince Nayef gave a briefing on the King’s most recent foreign consultations, including a phone call he received from U.S. President Barack Obama.

After reviewing the latest regional and international developments, the Cabinet hailed the statement issued by an extraordinary meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers calling for a halt to all violence in Syria. The ministers also expressed appreciation for the widespread international support the Kingdom has received following the revelation of a plot to assassinate Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir. They thanked U.S. authorities for preventing the attack and renewed the Kingdom’s call for all countries to fight against the scourge of terrorism.

Next, the Cabinet expressed the pride over the inauguration of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Global Center for Dialogue in Vienna. It thanked the government of Austria for hosting the institution and predicted that the Center will promote understanding, cooperation, and peace around the world. After listening to a report on the awarding of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud International Prize for Translation in Beijing, the ministers expressed hope that the prize would encourage the translation movement, which in turn contributes to mutual understanding.

On the domestic front, the Cabinet reviewed the economic, social and cultural events of the past week, including the Forum on Recent Trends in Alternative Sentences organized by the Ministry of Justice. It also noted the participation of the Kingdom in international economic and political symposia, including the Saudi Financial Forum held in London and the meeting of Finance Ministers of the Group of Twenty (G-20) in Paris.

Turning to its remaining agenda items, the Cabinet approved a number of decisions regarding subsidies of dates and other agricultural crops; approved recommendations of the ministerial committee for administrative organization regarding certain schools at the Ministry of Education; approved the final account of the General Commission for Tourism and Antiquities for fiscal year 1430/1431H; and approved the appointments of governmental representatives on the board of directors of the Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC).